“Do you think they even feel it?”
“I don’t know.” Alek answered honestly, the fingers of his other hand trailing her arm. “And honestly, I don’t care to find out. My only focus all this time has been revenge for the loss of my people and my wife. My hope is that however time appears in their reality, I’m the one who will cut it short.”
For a long while the two of them remained still in silence together.
Lanias slowly began to feel uncomfortable. The quiet comfort of Alek next to her brought awareness to yet another part of herself she purposely had ignored.
Even though she was a Witch and Alek was a Vampire, this quiet time between them felt normal. It was so very human in its simplicity.
She couldn’t help taking comfort having this man next to her, despite knowing now that he was an enemy to her father.
“I want to find out about my uncle, he’s the one who gave me to Sabina’s mother.” Lanias spoke, deciding to share a bit of her story. He looked at her in surprise.
She pulled at her hand as she grew embarrassed by his stare.
“Don’t look at me like that, I just felt like sharing since you told me a bit about your past, I thought should do the same.” She sat up into a sitting position. “I spent more time with my grandmother than my own mother growing up but never knew why. When my uncle died, I got his things, and one of those things was his journal. In it he’d written how I came into this living arrangement. Stanthos gave me to him when I was a baby, which is why I wanted to find him. I wanted to find out about my real parents. That’s why I’m looking into him and want to help that kid. I want to learn about my past.”
“Do you know how dangerous the thing you're hunting is?” he asked, brows drawing low as he looked at her with concern. “They don’t understand mercy. Or kindness. They care only about what they want. They're monsters.”
She laughed, “Monsters? I’m sorry, but Alek, we’re all the same.”
He frowned at her words. “What?”
“Monsters, demons, Witches, vampires.” She ticked them off with her fingers. “None of us are innocent and to be honest, when humans think of any of us it’s usually with fear. I’m not saying the Surrem aren’t an incredibly powerful enemy or aren’tterrible. Only that they aren’t the only monsters in the world. Hell, they’re even monsters amongst the human race.”
Alek responded with deep concern, “You don’t understand, but you will one day, and I hope it doesn’t cost you your life.”
As she reached over and covered his hand with hers. “Alek, I am not afraid.” Her gaze was steady, “I only fear dying not knowing why I’m here. I’ve played so many roles, and for once I want to give in to this selfish desire to learn more about myself and where I come from.”
“You’re a Witch, isn’t that good enough?”
She chuckled, “I would at least like to know my mother’s name. Even if that’s all I find out, I want that.”
He cupped her chin with his free hand and drew her closer. “You push a hard bargain, when all I want to do is keep you safe.”
She covered his hand with hers. “Isn’t that why we made a deal, you can keep me safe while I give everything up to you? I think between the two of us, you’re the one who ran a harder deal.”
He smirked. “Vampires are known to be merciless.”
Lanias lifted her chin, “So are Witches.”
In answer Alek leaned down and took her lips with his.
The kiss started soft but the pressure slowly started to build as it went on. Their lips moved together as her heart began to race.
Lanias had endured kisses from more powerful men than Alek. She’d endured the slobbering of those who’d thought her being a female would make things easy for them. And never once did she feel the urge to surrender, but under Alek’s hand she softened.
Her lips parted, allowing the kiss to deepen Alek ensured intensity continued.
The alignment of his body against hers wasn’t an invasion, but more a welcomed merger. He felt like she’d always thoughthe would, powerful muscle wrapped in silk that felt like a liquid sculpture pressed against the curves of her body.
The taste of him was cool to the tongue and refreshing to her soul. She moaned as he embraced her while smoothly maneuvering her into place beneath him.
Lanias thoughts converged in wonder if this what it meant to surrender everything?
Her heart was beating in her ears, as her tongue gently brushed against his. The pressing need between her legs grew. She allowed herself to admit to wanting him.
Her magic slowly slipped from her control as her desire grew.
